Top United States Beaches

The many ocean's and lakes of the United States are filled with amazing beaches. Beach lovers can choose from sandy beaches on the Gulf Coast, on the barrier islands of the Atlantic Ocean, the beautiful beaches of California, and of course all of the amazing beaches of Hawaii. Here are some of most stunning beaches found throughout the United States.

Ocracoke Beach, North Carolina

Ocracoke Island has 16 miles of undeveloped sandy shoreline. It is a barrier island of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and it is a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Ocracoke is fairly remote and can only be reached be public ferry, private boat or private plane. The beach is perfect for swimming, fishing, surfing, sunbathing, fishing and even camping. Certain portions of the beautiful sandy beach can be enjoyed by off-road vehicle.

Sand Beach, Maine

Located on Mt. Desert Island, Sand Beach offers visitors to Maine an amazing beach destination. Visitors to Acadia National Park have the opportunity to enjoy all of the beauty and excitement of this park. This beach is wonderfully sandy and is even a safe place to enjoy swimming. Bordered on both sides by rocky headlands, visitors can also enjoy the tide pools as well as wildlife living in the headlines.

Sea Camp Beach, Georgia

This Cumberland Island Beach is an amazing barrier island beach. Visitors to Cumberland Island can enjoy all 18-miles of this beautiful Atlantic side beach. Sea Camp Beach has wonderful shell collecting. Visitors to this beach can enjoy the sand dunes and lots of wildlife. Here visitors can look for wild horses, manatees, horseshoe crabs and much more.

Shi Shi Beach, Washington

Shi Shi Beach is a little out of the usual mould of beautiful beaches, but nevertheless it is a truly spectacular beach. Located in the Olympic National Park on the Olympic Peninsula. This beach is a spectacular example of the wild coast in Washington, in fact is one of the longest stretches of undeveloped shoreline in the lower 48. Shi Shi is a two mile crescent shaped beach with towering sandstones bluffs, fringed with forests and the beach is a wild mix of sand and stones. One feature of this beach is that it is very difficult to reach, the remote location has protected the beaches wild beauty. Shi Shi can be reached by taking a 13 mile trail starting in Ozette, the trail is rough, often muddy and very rugged. Unfortunately Shi Shi is not a great swimming location, as it has frequent riptides. It is an amazing example of the rough and wild Olympic coastal wilderness.

South Ocean Beach, Maryland

Located on the fascinating Assateague Island, South Ocean Beach is a beautiful atlantic coast beach. This shoreline is drivable, giving visitors the opportunities to enjoy all the miles of the beach and all of the activities of the beach. South Ocean Beach even offers some fantastic surfing conditions in the region as well.

Twelvemile Beach, Michigan

Twelvemile Beach is a beautiful an isolated beach within the Pictured Rocks National Seashore. On one side are the Pictured Rock cliffs and the Grand Sable Banks. Visitors can walk along the white sand fore its entire length. I addition to enjoying views from the state, visitors can also enjoy beachcombing, fishing and so much more.

West Beach, Alabama

West Beach in Gulf Shores is a beautiful example of an Alabama white sand beach. Stretching for about six miles, this beach offers some truly amazing white sand. Combined with the wonderful warm waters, visitors to West Beach can enjoy a great beach experience.

Van Damme Beach, California

Located on the Mendocino Coast, just north of San Francisco, Van Damme Beach offers a beautiful destination and a quiet atmosphere. From the redwoods on the shoreline to the sea caves and tidal pools, this beach offers an amazing look at a California beach. Here, visitors can enjoy a variety of recreation, including kayaking, diving and more.

Hawaii Beaches

Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

This Hawaiian beach is located just outside of Hana on the island of Kauai. The half-moon shaped beach is rimmed by sea cliffs with beautiful lush vegetation. The beach is composed of stunning black and silver sand. Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, bodysurfing and diving. The best time of year to visit Hamoa is the summer and early fall months, and visitors should be aware that this beach is not protected by a fringing reef, so there can be dangerous big surf and outside of the bay there are strong currents.

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States if not the world, Poipu Beach is located on the south shore of Kauai and is part of Poipu Beach Park. The beach is composed of a string of golden sandy crescent shaped beaches. Visitors to Poipu can have hours of fun snorkeling, boogie-boarding, swimming, and surfing. The best surfing spots are located slightly offshore, the reef establishes wavebreaks which make good surfing for surfers of all experience levels.